Mobile track correction apparatus



Nov. 25, 1969 F. PLAssER ET Al- 3,479,9364- MOBILE TRACK CORRECTION APPARATUS Filed May 6, 1968 INVENTORS Frm/z Puts SER JOSE-F Wl/RER United States Patent O 3,479,964 MOBILE TRACK CORRECTION APPARATUS Franz Plasser and Josef Theurer, both of .lohannesgasse 3, Vienna, Austria Continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 438,907,

Mar. 11, 1965. This application May 6, 1968, Ser.

Int. Cl. E01b 33/00, 27/02 U.S. Cl. 104-7 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE CROSS REFERENCE TO COPENDING APPLICATION This is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Ser. No. 438,907, liled Mar. l1, 1965, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in mobile track correction apparatus.

It is conventional to correct the position of a track, i.e. to regrade it and/or align it laterally, with an apparatus arranged for mobility on the track and including different types of track correction means including means for changing the position of the track, reference means for determining the track position changes, and track tamping means for fixing the track in the changed position.

Using this general type of apparatus, it is the primary object of the present invention to increase the eiciency of such machines and to adapt them for use in either direction of the track.

Essentially, the above land other objects and advantages are accomplished in accordance with the invention by a track correction apparatus which comprises an elongated carriage arranged for mobility on the track in either direction along the track elongation, with track lifting and track shifting means for changing the position of the track, and track tamping means for fixing the track in the changed position, these means being spacedly mounted on the carriage along the track. At least one of the means is mounted on the carriage in a pair spaced apart along the track elongation at a substantially fixed distance, one of the means of the pair being operable when the apparatus moves in one direction and the other means of the pair being operable when the apparatus moves in the other direction. Reference means is mounted. at each end of the carriage for determining the track position changes as the apparatus moves in one or the other direction.

With the use of a single carriage, high economies are attained and it is possible to automate operations of all these means to a very large degree, thus reducing the need for operating personnel to a minimum.

3,479,964 Patented Nov. 25, 1969 "ice BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING AND DETAILED DESCRIPTION The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description of one embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the single figure of the accompanying drawing.

In the illustrated embodiment, the entire apparatus is shown mounted on a single elongated carriage arranged for mobility on the track including a plurality of adjacent ties 4 supporting rails 3 and supported on ballast 5 which rests on foundation 6. A pair of trucks 2 adjacent the carriage ends supports the carriage 1 on the track for mobility thereon. A plurality of different types of track correction means are spacedly mounted on the carriage between the trucks along its axis of elongation extending in the direction of the track.

It will be obvious to the skilled in the art, however, that the apparatus would function in substantially the same manner if the unitary carriage 1 were replaced by a plurality of separate carriages rigidly or flexibly coupled together to constitute a carriage means for the track correction means, each type of the track correction means being mounted on one of the separate carriages or some of the different types of track correction means being assembled on one carriage while other such means are mounted on another carriage.

As shown in the drawing, the types of track correction means include means for changing the position of the track, reference means for determining the track position changes, and track tamping means for fixing the track in the changed position. The means for changing the position of the track are constituted by a track lifting device 7 and a pair of track shifting devices 15, 15.

In the illustrated embodiment, the track lifting device is arranged at the midpoint intermediate the two ends of the carriage means and may be any suitable track jack, such as the illustrated hydraulic jack, the track lifting device being designed to change the vertical position, i.e. the grade of the track. For changing the lateral position of the track, i.e. to shift the track laterally, there is provided a pair of track shifting devices 15, 15 which may also be conventional hydraulically operated track rail grippers or clamps designed to move the track to the right or left.

As will, therefore, be understood track correction is used throughout this specification and the claims to designate a change in the vertical or lateral position of the track, and includes track grading and lateral track alignment.

The reference means includes one reference line 11 extending between the two ends of the apparatus and a marker means 8, 9, 10` arranged intermediate the apparatus ends and cooperating with the track and reference line 11 for determining the vertical track position changes eifected by track lifting device 7. The illustrated reference means also is generally conventional and includes a vertically extending rod 10 vertically glidably mounted on carriage 1 and having one end supported on a rail 4 by means of a rail-engaging roller 9 while its other end carries spotboard 8 for cooperation with reference line 11. This marker means is arranged immediately adjacent track lifting device 7 to determine the vertical track position change effected by the lifting device. As is conventional, lifting is interrupted when the edge of the spotboard is in alignment with the reference line 11 which is vertically spaced from the tr-ack and parallel to whose extension the track is to be graded.

As shown, the two ends of reference line 11 are respectively supported on the ends of the carriage means. In the illustrated embodiment, the reference line is constituted by a beam of radiated energy, such as light, infrared radio or radar waves, directed from a sender to a receiver supported on respective ends of the carriage means. The sender and/or receiver are designated at 12, 13, the two being obviously interchangeable.

The illustrated reference means further includes another reference line 19 having two ends respectively supported at Ianchor points 20, 20 on the ends of the carriage means for determining lateral track position changes effected by the track shifting devices 15, 15. The other reference line 19 may be a tensioned wire held between its anchor points or a beam of radiated energy similar to that of reference line 11. As all of the above-described individual parts of the apparatus, the reference means may be conventional and, therefore, has been illustrated j only schematically and described sufficiently to enable those skilled in the lart to practice the invention.

The illustrated track tamping means is constituted by a pair of track tampers 14, 14 arranged immediately adjacent track lifting device 7 on either side thereof. The distance of the track shifting devices 15, 15 from the track tampers 14, 14 considerably exceeds the distance of the track tampers from the track lifting device, and the track tampers and track shifting devices arel arranged symmetrically along the axis of the apparatus in respect of the midpoint thereof. Similar symmetry has been observed in the illustrated embodiment in the arrangement of all pairs of like parts.

The illustrated track tampers are conventional vertically adjustable pairs of cooperating vibratory tamping tools and since their structure and operation is well known, it requires no further description.

To re-establish the original profile of the ballast bed after the track position has been corrected and the track has been fixed in the corrected position, the carriage 1 carries at its two ends ballast plows 16, 16 and rollers 17, 17. The plows are supported on the carriage and engage the sides of the ballast bed to straighten it out as the carriage moves along the track. The rollers are vertically adjustably mounted on the ends of the carriage by means of hydraulic motors 18, 18 and are designed to level the ballast between the ties after tamping.

As will be readily appreciated, an apparatus of the described type can operate on a track in either direction, as indicated by the horizontal arrow on the drawing, without having to be turned around. Also, the elongated nature of the carriage means makes it possible to mount all parts of the apparatus on a lcommon carriage and thus makes the Iarrangement very economical.

Furthermore, such an apparatus may be used to carry out a highly eicient continuous grading method which comprises the steps of simultaneously lifting two adjacent ties 4 and tamping the ballast 5 under the two ties 4, 4 adjacent respective ones of the two tadjacent ties in one track section of four successive ties, and repeating these steps in successively adjacent track sections in a continuous progression along the track. For this purpose, the track jack 7 is placed intermediately between two adjacent ties and the distance of the tamper pair 14, 14 from the track jack is such that the two ties adjacent the two ties being lifted are placed between the pair of cooperating tamping tools of each tamper.

While the invention has been described in connection with one preferred embodiment, it will be clearly understood that the illustrated individual parts of the combination may readily be replaced by equivalent conventional or novel parts functioning in a like manner, the invention residing solely in the described combination.

We claim:

1. In a track correction comprising an elongated carriage having two ends and arranged for mobility on the track in either direction along the track elongation, track lifting and track shifting means for changing the position of the track, reference means for determining the track position changes, and track tamping means for xing the track in the changed position, said means being spacedly mounted on the carriage along the track elongation, the improvement of mounting the reference means and said tamping means on the carriage each in a pair spaced apart along the track elongation at a substantially fixed distance, one of the means of each pair being operable when the apparatus moves in one direction and the other means 0f the pair being operable when the apparatus moves in the other direction, said pair'of reference means being mounted at respective ones of said carriage ends and each tamping means of said pair being arranged on the carriage on either side of the track lifting means in the direction of track elongation.

2. In the track correction apparatus of claim 1, said track shifting means also being ararnged in a pair, and each of the track shifting means of said pair being arranged on the carriage on either side of the track tamping means in the direction of track elongation whereby the track tamping means is positioned between the track shifting and lifting means.

3. In the track correction apparatus of claim 1, me'ans for levelling ballast supporting the track.

4. The track correction apparatus of claim 3, wherein the ballast leveling means are arranged at each of the ends of the apparatus.

5. A track correction apparatus comprising the combination of a plurality of different types of track correction means spacedly arranged on the track for joint mobility thereon, the apparatus having two ends, a midpoint intermediate said ends and an axis of elongation extending in the direction of the track; said types of track correction means including a track lifting device and a pair of track shifting devices, reference means for determining the track position changes, and track tamping means arranged in a pair for fixing the track in the changed position, the track lifting device being arranged substantially at said midpoint, each of the track tamping me'ans being arranged adjacent the track lifting device and each of the track shifting devices being arranged between a respective one of the track tamping means and a respective end of the apparatus, each of the track shifting devices being arranged between one of the ends and the midpoint. 6. The track correction apparatus of claim 5, wherein the track tamping means and the track shifting devices are arranged symmetrically along the axis in respect of the midpoint.

7. The' track correction apparatus of claim 6, wherein the track tamping means are arranged immediately adjacent the track lifting device and the distance of the track shifting devices from the track tamping means considerably exceeds the distance of the track tamping means from the track lifting device.

8. A track correction apparatus comprising the' combination of a plurality of different types of track correction means spacedly arranged on the track for joint mobility thereon, the apparatus having two ends, a midpoint intermediate said ends and an axis of elongation extending in the direction of the track; said types of track correction means including a track lifting device substantially at said midpoint and a pair of track shifting devices, each track shifting device being arranged between said track lifting device and a respective end of the apparatus; at least one reference line vertically spaced from the track and extending between the two ends of the apparatus; a vertically extending marker means having two e'nds respectively cooperating with the track and said one reference line for determining the vertical track position changes, said marker means being arranged adjacent the track lifting device; another reference line extending between the two ends of the apparatus for determining the lateral track position changes; and track tamping means for fixing the track in the changed position.

9. A track correction apparatus comprising the combination of (a) carriage means arranged for mobility on the track,

the carriage means having two ends, a midpoint intermediate said ends and an axis 0f elongation extending in the direction of the track;

(b) a track lifting device arranged on said carriage means substantially at said midpoint;

(c) a pair of track tamping means mounted on said carriage means, each of said track tamping means being arranged adjacent the track lifting device;

(d) a pair of track shifting devices mounted on the carriage means, each of said track shifting devices being arranged' between a respective one of said track tamping means and a respective end of said carriage means;

(e) one reference line vertically spaced from the track and having two ends respectively supported on the ends of the carriage means;

(f) vertically extending marker means having two ends respectively cooperating with the track and said one reference line for determining vertical track position changes, said marker means being arranged on said carriage means adjacent the track lifting device; and

(g) another reference line having two ends respectively supported on the ends of the carriage means for determining lateral track position changes.

References Cited ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner RICHARD A. BERTSCH, Assistant Examiner 20 U.S. Cl. X.R. 

